‘Davao City safe for journalists’

DAVAO CITY — This city is safe for journalists.

Mayor Rodrigo Duterte gave this assurance in a speech read on his behalf by Vice Mayor Luis Bonguyan during the Media in Society Conference here last Saturday.

"While some of your colleagues have discreetly pointed a finger at me on the current controversial issue that took place three weeks ago, let me, once and for all, assure you that Davao City is safe for journalists," he said.

Duterte was referring to speculations that he might have had a hand in the killing of Davao City broadcaster Juan "Jun" Pala, who had been critical of him. He earlier belied the allegations.

Besides Pala, five other journalists have been killed in Davao City since the 1980s.

Since the fall of the Marcos regime in 1986, at least 42 journalists have been killed in the country.

Duterte cited the need for mediamen to be responsible and not to abuse their powers. — Edith Regalado